Convertible and demountable gymnastic chair



Oct. 28, 19.47,

N. B. MASTERSON ETAL CONVERTIBLE AND DEMOUNTABLE GYMNASTIG CHAIR Filed- Nov. 3, 1945 INVEN TORS NORMA B/GLEE M457E50N e,

- EDNA ANN GOULD BY .riser portion 1 Patented a. 28, 1947 CONVERTIBLE AND DEMOUN TABLE GYlWNASTIC CHAIR Norma Bigler Masterson, Pittsfield, Mass, and Edna Ann Gould, Cleveland, Ohio Application November 3, 1945, Serial No. 626,472

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to convertible and demountable gymnastic chairs and particularly to domestic devices of the type which may be used by adults as a chair when set in one position and which may be used by children as a play or exercising device when set up in another position.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive device which may be quickly and easily-converted from one to the other use stated.

Another object is to provide a device of the type stated which can be quickly and easily dismantled or disassembled to facilitate storage or economical transportation.

A further object is to equip a-device of the type stated with a separablepadded seat member that can also be used as a cushion. when the device is used for play or exercise.

Still another object is to construct such device so that it is sturdy, in equilibrium and not likely to be dangerously upset when used for gymnastic purposes.

A still further object is 'to make such device adjustable so that it may be satisfactorily used by children of different ages or sizes.

These and other objects of the invention 'will become apparent froma reading of the following description and claims, together with the accompanying drawing, in which like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference characters and wherein:

Figure 1 isa perspective view of the combination device set up as "a chair;

Figure 2 is -a perspective View 'of the device set up for exercising or gymnastic purposes;

Figure 3 is a horizontalcross-sectional view of a portion of the frame thereof;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the device, taken substantially along the line and in thedirectionof the -arrows-44 of the Figure 1; and

Figure-5 is a sectional view of the device, taken along the line and in the-direction'of the arrows 5+5 of the-Figure 1. I

The instant invention consists broadly or a tubular frame member and acushion member,

.p0rtion"l:ll,-a frontor seat-portion composed of a Z0 and an arm portion-29 and a ,rearwardly and .upwardly inclinedback portion 3!]. The said riserof the seat portion ascends upwardly a short distance from the front end ll of the base portion and the frame there turns back and forms the arm which is in longitudinal alignment with the base portion Ill. The rear part of the arm portion 29 merges with the inclined back portion 30 which back portion also is in longitudinal alignment and in a vertical plane with the base portion ID.

The two side frame members are connected together in spaced relation at the parallel spaced upright risers'ft of the said seat portions by means of a laterally extending portion 22. This lateral portion 22 is a bar or tube having a length the width of the seat and is separably mounted on the two upright risers 20 by means ofthe two bolts and wing nuts 23- and respectively. The bolts and nuts 23 and 24 pass through diametrical holes 2| adjacent to the ends of the lateral portion 22 and the holes 21 in the seat portion.

The rear ends orf the base portion H] are hollow and receive the ends M of the rear lateral connecting member 13. The ends M are parallel to each other and are at right angles to the lateral portion IS. The ends telescope in the two open ends of the base portion it. Both the base portions Hi and the ends 14 are drilled to receive the bolts and wing nuts It as shown. The ends 14 have several spaced holes therein so that the portions l0 and t3 may fbe-set at several different positions.

The arms 28 of the seat portions are provided with suitable rests 25 which are removably secured to the tops thereof bymeans of the bolts-and wing nuts 26 as shown. These may be quickly and easily removed if desired when thedevice is used :for gymnastic purposes.

The hollow top ends 31 of the back portion '39 telescopically receive the parallel ends 34 of the top lateral connecting vmember 33. The top ends .31 the said parallel ends 34 also have diametric moles therethrough for adjustably receivinglthe bolts and wingrnuts 36 as indicated.

The cushion ,member 40 consists of a strong, durable textile sheet Al on which there is attached a padded ,portion having ,a suitable compressible material 44, as -shown-in the Figure 5. .Both :ends of the cushion member :40 are proadded with lateral -folds or loops 4.2 and 43 which receive the lateral portions 22'and223 respectively, when the device is assembled and set up as a chair. This assembly is clearly shown in the Figure :1.

When the-device is set up on end for gymnastic'use, thecushion-is laid between the members and o t late exte d n porti 1;

and 33 as is clearly shown in the Figure 2. When set up for the latter purpose and when the portions it and 33 are properly extended or adjusted, the vertical plane through the lateral portion or bar 22 is exactly mid-way between the portions l3 and 33 at the base. This insures stability and equilibrium and prevents the device from tipping. A child may therefore play on the bar 22 with safety and in the event of a fall, the cushion member 40 protects him and prevents injury since the base is completely covered.

It will be observed that by dismantling the device by the simple separation of the bars [3, 22 and 33, it can be packed in a relatively fiat container and thus may be easily stored or transported. It should be understood also that the cushion member Ml may be constructed of a material and in a manner whereby it may be infiated with air instead of padded with compressible material 44 as shown.

Having thus disclosed the invention in its preferred form, it should be understood that the description and illustration thereof are suggestive only and are not to be construed in a limiting sense, as there may be other forms or modifications thereof which also come within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A gymnastic chair, comprising in combination, two support members each composed of a base member, a seat member consisting of a riser and arm portion ascending therefrom, and a back member ascending from the arm portion of the seat member and the combined arm and back members being substantially as long as the base member.

2. A gymnastic chair, comprising in combination, two support members each composed of a base member having a first laterally extending bar thereon, a seat member consisting of a riser and arm portion ascending from the base member and having a second laterally extending bar thereon, and a back member ascending rearwardly and upwardly from the arm portion of the seat member and having a third laterally extending bar thereon, the distance between the first and second bars being substantially the same as the distance between the second and third bars.

3. A gymnastic chair, comprising in combination, a support member composed of a base member including a first pair of parallel tubular portions and having a first laterally extending bar engageable with the said pair of tubular portions, a seat member including a second pair of tubular portions integral with and ascending from the base member and also including a pair of arms, the said seat member having a second laterally extending bar between the tubular portions thereof, and a back member including a third pair of tubular portions integral with and ascending rearwardly and upwardly from the arms of the seat member, the said back member having a third laterally extending bar between the tubular portions thereof, the distance between the first and second bars being substantially the same as the distance between the secnd and third bars.

4. A gymnastic chair, comprising in combination, a support member composed of a base member including a first pair of tubular portions and av a first laterally extending bar thereon, the said bar being adjustably engageable with the tubular portions, a seat member consistin of .a riser and arm portion ascending from the base member and having a second laterally extending bar thereon, and a back member extending from the arm portion of the seat member and including a second pair of tubular portions and having a third laterally extending bar thereon, the said third bar being adjustably engageable with the second pair of tubular portions, the distance between the first and second bars being substantially the same as the distance between the second and third bars.

5. A gymnastic chair, comprising in combination, two support members each composed of a base member having a first laterally extending bar engageable with the rear end thereof, a seat member consisting of a riser and arm portion mounted on the front end of the base member and having a second laterally extending bar thereon, and a back member mounted at its front end on the arm portion of the seat member and having a third laterally extending bar engageable with the rear end thereof, the three bars being parallel and spaced to form an isosceles triangle when the device is tipped and positioned so that the second bar is at the apex and the first and third bars are at the base.

6. A gymnastic chair, comprising in combination, two support members each composed of a base member having a first laterally extending bar engageable with the rear end thereof, a seat member consisting of a riser and arm portion mounted on the front end of the base member and having a second laterally extending bar thereon, a back member mounted at its front end on the arm portion of the seat member and having a third laterally extending bar engageable with the rear end thereof, the three bars being parallel and spaced to form an isosceles triangle when the device is tipped and positioned so that the second bar is at the apex and the first and third bars are at the base, and a cushion member detachably mounted on the second and third laterally extending bars capable of being laid across the aforesaid first and third bars at the base and below the said second bar.

7. A gymnastic chair, comprising in combination, a support member composed of a base member including a first pair of tubular portions and having a first laterally extending bar thereon adjustably engageable with the rear ends thereof, a seat member having a second laterally extending bar thereon mounted on the front end of the base member and also including a pair of arms, a back member including a second pair of tubular portions and having a third laterally extending bfar thereon adjustably engageable with the ends thereof mounted on arms of the seat member, the three bars being parallel and spaced to form an isosceles triangle when the device is tipped and positioned so that the second bar is at the apex and the first and third bars are at the base, and a cushion member detachably mounted on the second and third laterally extending bars capable of being laid across the aforesaid first and third bars at the base and below the said second bar.

8. A gymnastic chair, comprising in combination, a support member composed of a base member including a first pair of tubular portions and having a first laterally extending bar thereon adjustably engageable with the rear ends thereof, a seat member including a second pair of tubular portions integral with and ascending from the base member and including arm portions, the said seal; member having a second laterally ex- 5 tending bar between the tubular portions thereof, a back member including a third pair of tubular portions integral with the arm portions of the seat member and having a third laterally extend ing bar thereon adjustably engageable with the rear ends thereof, the three bars being parallel and spaced to form an isosceles triangle when the device is tipped and positioned so that the second bar is at the apex and the first and third bars are at the base, and a cushion member detachably mounted on the second and third laterally extending bars capable of being laid across the aforesaid first and third bars at the base and below the said second bar.

9. A gymnastic chair, comprising in combination, two support members each composed of a base member, a seat member consisting of a riser and arm portion ascending therefrom, and a back member ascending from the arm portion of the seat member and the combined arm and back members being substantially as long as the base member, and a cushion member mountable on the seat'an'd back members when the device is used as a chair and mountable on the base and back members when the device is used as gymnastic apparatus.

NORMA BIGLER MASTERSON. EDNA ANN GOULD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,135,586 Lorenz et a1 Nov. 8, 1938 753,815 White et al Mar. 1, 1904 

